A bird's-eye view of Tangzha Ancient Town. [Photo provided to en.nantong.gov.cn]

Tangzha Ancient Town in Nantong, Jiangsu province, was recently listed among the top 10 shooting locations for TV series in the province, local media reported.

The ancient town still retains a large number of historical relics related to modern industry and is praised by renowned academician Wu Liangyong as the "No 1 Town for Modern Industrial Heritage in China".

The Tongyang Canal passes through the town, dividing it into eastern and western areas. The core of the western area are the Dasheng Cotton Mills, founded in 1895 by Zhang Jian (1853-1926), a prominent industrialist and educator. Since then, Tangzha has been transformed from a rural port into a nationally renowned industrial town.

The Dasheng Cotton Mills continue to operate at the original site, preserving their historical appearance and basic layout. Within their premises, numerous century-old buildings can be found, including the Bell Tower, administrative hall, experts' building, Qinghua Workshop, and the former site of the Nantong Textile Specialized School.

The Dasheng Wharf is one of the most beautiful landmarks along the Grand Canal in Jiangsu and a landmark building in Tangzha Ancient Town. The wharf stands tall, gazing from afar at the Dasheng Cotton Mills.

The Bell Tower, built in 1915, is the earliest landmark building in the town. Originally serving as the gatehouse of the Dasheng Cotton Mills, it kept time for workers commuting to and from work.